Could The “Smoking Gun” Of The BP Oil Spill Be Dead Coral?

Scientists who recently returned from a research expedition at the Gulf Coast report finding dead or dying coral near the BP oil spill site, purportedly covered in a “brown substance”. They are saying that this is the “smoking gun” of the oil spill, also saying they’ve never seen anything like it….going on to state that the depth and direction of the site the research was done at was the exact spot that would have been impacted by a deep-water plume such as the one present during the oil spill this past summer.

The normally brightly colored deep-water coral was said to be brownish, with “exposed skeleton” or white stars tightly wound around the skeleton itself. As most people know, coral normally flows like a friendly wave, these coral were not. The scientists are saying this death has been going on over a period of months, and it’s a combination of dead tissue and sediment. Coral nearby were also showing the same affect as well. Another concern stemming from this would be the impact on the marine life.

So, why a smoking gun? Because earlier reports from federal teams painted a picture of little to no damage to marine life or the ocean floor. This recent evidence obviously negates that, as well as the point that the majority of the oil had dispersed naturally with nothing seen on the water’s surface. Further testing will be needed to determine that the substance found on the coral was, in fact, oil from the spill although evidence strongly suggests that.

C. Jordan is an avid pop culture enthusiast and writer who currently resides in Iowa. In the 1990's, she lived in in the midst of Hollywood, California where she appeared in several television shows and low budget films, such as Crocodile Tears and Buffy the Vampire Slayer (uncredited). She now continues her passion for all things reality and entertainment here, helping to create The Yak! She is also pursuing work in the medical administration field, having gone back to school and earning her degree in Medical Office Management. She also has a B.A. in Psychology.

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